You can contact us here
Vulvar Disorders
Vulvar Diseases
Vulvar disorders are conditions that affect the health of a woman's genitals such as pain, skin conditions, infections or cancer. Find out more.
Vulva symbols
Image by AnonMoos
Vulvectomy
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
The vulva is the external part of a woman's genitals. Some problems you can have with the vulvar area include
Symptoms may include redness, itching, pain, or cracks in the skin. Treatment depends on the cause.
Source: NIH
Illustration of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria
Image by CDC/ Antibiotic Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit; Photo credit: Medical Illustrator: Alissa Eckert
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The contact is usually vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through other intimate physical contact. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact.
There are more than 20 types of STDs, including
STDs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Most STDs affect both men and women, but in many cases the health problems they cause can be more severe for women. If a pregnant woman has an STD, it can cause serious health problems for the baby.
STDs don't always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms. So it is possible to have an infection and not know it. But you can still pass it on to others.
If there are symptoms, they could include
If you are sexually active, you should talk to your health care provider about your risk for STDs and whether you need to be tested. This is especially important since many STDs do not usually cause symptoms.
Some STDs may be diagnosed during a physical exam or through microscopic examination of a sore or fluid swabbed from the vagina, penis, or anus. Blood tests can diagnose other types of STDs.
Antibiotics can treat STDs caused by bacteria or parasites. There is no cure for STDs caused by viruses, but medicines can often help with the symptoms and lower your risk of spreading the infection.
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Vaginitis
Image by BruceBlaus
Vaginal problems are some of the most common reasons women go to the doctor. They may have symptoms such as
One common problem is vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. Other problems that affect the vagina include sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. Treatment of vaginal problems depends on the cause.
Source: NIH
Anatomy of the Vagina
Image by TheVisualMD
Vaginitis, also called vulvovaginitis, is an inflammation or infection of the vagina. It can also affect the vulva, which is the external part of a woman's genitals. Vaginitis can cause itching, pain, discharge, and odor.
Vaginitis is common, especially in women in their reproductive years. It usually happens when there is a change in the balance of bacteria or yeast that are normally found in your vagina. There are different types of vaginitis, and they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44. It happens when there is an imbalance between the "good" and "harmful" bacteria that are normally found in a woman's vagina. Many things can change the balance of bacteria, including
Yeast infections (candidiasis) happen when too much candida grows in the vagina. Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. You may have too much growing in the vagina because of
Trichomoniasis can also cause vaginitis. Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by a parasite.
You can also have vaginitis if you are allergic or sensitive to certain products that you use. Examples include vaginal sprays, douches, spermicides, soaps, detergents, or fabric softeners. They can cause burning, itching, and discharge.
Hormonal changes can also cause vaginal irritation. Examples are when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or when you have gone through menopause.
Sometimes you can have more than one cause of vaginitis at the same time.
The symptoms of vaginitis depend on which type you have.
With BV, you may not have symptoms. You could have a thin white or gray vaginal discharge. There may be an odor, such as a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex.
Yeast infections produce a thick, white discharge from the vagina that can look like cottage cheese. The discharge can be watery and often has no smell. Yeast infections usually cause the vagina and vulva to become itchy and red.
You may not have symptoms when you have trichomoniasis. If you do have them, they include itching, burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva. You may have burning during urination. You could also have gray-green discharge, which may smell bad.
To find out the cause of your symptoms, your health care provider may
In some cases, you may need more tests.
The treatment depends on which type of vaginitis you have.
BV is treatable with antibiotics. You may get pills to swallow, or cream or gel that you put in your vagina. During treatment, you should use a condom during sex or not have sex at all.
Yeast infections are usually treated with a cream or with medicine that you put inside your vagina. You can buy over-the-counter treatments for yeast infections, but you need to be sure that you do have a yeast infection and not another type of vaginitis. See your health care provider if this is the first time you have had symptoms. Even if you have had yeast infections before, it is a good idea to call your health care provider before using an over-the-counter treatment.
The treatment for trichomoniasis is usually a single-dose antibiotic. Both you and your partner(s) should be treated, to prevent spreading the infection to others and to keep from getting it again.
If your vaginitis is due to an allergy or sensitivity to a product, you need to figure out which product is causing the problem. It could be a product that you started using recently. Once you figure it out, you should stop using the product.
If the cause of your vaginitis is a hormonal change, your health care provider may give you estrogen cream to help with your symptoms.
It is important to treat BV and trichomoniasis, because having either of them can increase your risk for getting HIV or another sexually transmitted disease. If you are pregnant, BV or trichomoniasis can increase your risk for preterm labor and preterm birth.
To help prevent vaginitis
Source: MedlinePlus
Vulval cancer - Stage 3
Interactive by Cancer Research UK uploader
Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. It forms in a woman's external genitals, called the vulva. The cancer usually grows slowly over several years. First, precancerous cells grow on vulvar skin. This is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn into cancer, but it is best to treat it early.
Often, vulvar cancer doesn't cause symptoms at first. However, see your doctor for testing if you notice
You are at greater risk if you've had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or have a history of genital warts. Your health care provider diagnoses vulvar cancer with a physical exam and a biopsy. Treatment varies, depending on your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It might include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.
Source: NIH: National Cancer Institute
Drawing of vulvar cancer
Image by Internet Archive Book Images
Vulvar cancer forms in a woman's external genitalia. The vulva includes:
Vulvar cancer most often affects the outer vaginal lips. Less often, cancer affects the inner vaginal lips, clitoris, or vaginal glands.
Vulvar cancer usually forms slowly over many years. Abnormal cells can grow on the surface of the vulvar skin for a long time. This condition is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). Because it is possible for VIN to become vulvar cancer, it is important to get treatment.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
What if I get a vaginal yeast infection while I’m pregnant?
Image by TheVisualMD/CDC
Candida is the scientific name for yeast. It is a fungus that lives almost everywhere, including in your body. Usually, your immune system keeps yeast under control. If you are sick or taking antibiotics, it can multiply and cause an infection.
Yeast infections affect different parts of the body in different ways:
Antifungal medicines get rid of yeast infections in most people. If you have a weak immune system, treatment might be more difficult.
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Simple diagram of a human vulva with the lips splayed to show the labis majora, labis minora, clitoral hood, clitoris, vaginal opening and perineum.
Image by Black Shade9
Vulvodynia is a term used to describe chronic pain (lasting at least 3 months) of the vulva that does not have a clear cause, such as an infection or cancer. The vulva refers to the external female genitalia, including the labia ("lips" or folds of skin at the opening of the vagina), the clitoris, and the vaginal opening. Vulvodynia is usually described as burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness.
Sometimes, vulvodynia is described with more specific terms.
Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Female Pelvis Showing Reproductive Organ
Image by TheVisualMD
Pelvic pain is a general term that health care providers use to describe pain that occurs mostly or only in the lower abdominal area. Pelvic pain signals that there might be a problem with one of the organs in the pelvic area: uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina, urinary tract, lower intestines, or rectum. Another possibility is that the pain might be a symptom of infection. Sometimes pelvic pain can be caused by muscular and skeletal problems.
Vulvodynia more commonly refers to pain of the external genitalia, including the labia ("lips" or folds of skin at the opening of the vagina), the clitoris, and the vaginal opening.
Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Localized vulvodynia - Areas of pain in localized vulvodynia
Image by Acvdn/Wikimedia
Conditions that are associated with chronic vulvar pain include:
However, these types of vulvar pain are not considered vulvodynia, because their causes can be identified.
Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Stages of Vulvar Cancer
Interactive by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Vulvar pain is a symptom of vulvar cancer, which is rare. If your health care provider finds an abnormal area of the vulva, he or she may take a small sample of tissue from that area to determine from a biopsy whether cancer is present. When vulvar cancer is found and treated early, it is curable in most cases.
Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Get free access to in-depth articles and track your personal health.
Send this HealthJournal to your friends or across your social medias.